State Law reference — Highway
advertising act, MCLA 252.301 et seq.
This article is intended to regulate the size, number, location
and manner of display of signs in the Village in a manner consistent
with the following purposes:
A. To protect and further the health, safety and welfare of Village
residents, property owners and visitors.
B. To prevent traffic hazards and pedestrian accidents caused by signs
which obstruct vision, distract or confuse drivers, or are improperly
secured or constructed.
C. To conserve and enhance community character.
D. To promote uniformity in the size, number and/or placement of signs
within zoning districts.
E. To promote the economic viability of commercial areas by minimizing
visual clutter and allowing for proper placement of signs to safely
direct motorists to their destination.
F. To balance the public's right to be informed and its desire to avoid
visual pollution and hazardous conditions with the desire of business
and nonbusiness uses to communicate by means of signs.
G. To maintain and enhance the Village's aesthetic environment in a
manner that is consistent with the public health, safety and welfare.
See §
370-3 for definitions pertaining to signs.
All signs not expressly allowed under this article (unless exempted
from regulation under this article) are prohibited in the Village.
Further, the following signs are expressly prohibited:
A. Portable signs, except as allowed by this article.
B. Any sign, including window signs, which have flashing, moving, oscillating
or blinking lights (excluding time and temperature and digital signs
which are permitted, provided that their message does not change more
frequently than once every 12 seconds).
D. Signs mounted on vehicles which are not in active use by the business
or activity advertised, whether located on-premises or off-premises.
The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this article, except for the provisions of §
370-437:
B. Temporary memorial signs.
C. Signs for essential services.
E. Nameplate signs of 216 square inches or less when located on a gate
or entrance or wall of a principal residence.
F. Political signs supporting or opposing a political candidate, party
or ballot issue.
G. Home occupation signs, limited to four square feet flat mounted to
building.
The following signs shall not require a permit, but shall be
subject to all other applicable regulations of this article:
B. Directional signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
D. Signs for residential yard sales and garage sales as regulated in
Section 42-441 of this Code.
E. Real estate signs as regulated in this article.
F. Community special event signs.
G. Up to 15 square feet of changeable copy board when attached to not
more than one conforming freestanding sign per parcel/lot in commercial
and industrial districts.
I. Political signs supporting or opposing a political candidate, party
or ballot issue shall be posted 30 days prior to election and removed
within five days after election.
The following regulations are applicable to signs in all zoning
districts:
A. All signs shall be stationary and, except for noncommercial signs
and community special event signs, shall pertain to the business or
activity conducted on the premises except as otherwise permitted in
this article.
B. Real estate signs are permitted in any zoning district but shall
be removed within one week after completion of the sale or lease of
the property.
C. For parcels which have frontage on more than one street, one additional
freestanding sign per street frontage may be allowed subject to the
following:
(1)
The permitted additional sign shall not be placed along the
same frontage that contains another freestanding sign.
(2)
A minimum of 40 feet of street frontage is required for the
placement of an additional sign.
D. Temporary construction signs are permitted in any district subject
to the following restrictions:
(1)
Signs shall be no larger than 32 square feet and shall be located
not closer than 10 feet from the right-of-way with a maximum height
of 10 feet.
(2)
Any such temporary construction signs shall be removed not later
than the placement of a permanent sign installed pursuant to this
article.
E. Community special event signs are permitted in any zoning district
subject to the following restrictions:
(1)
A community special event sign may be located either on or off
premises where the event is being held. Any sign off premises must
have a letter giving permission from the property owner given to the
Village hall.
(2)
The sign may be erected no earlier than three weeks prior to
the event that is being advertised.
(3)
The sign shall have a maximum size of 32 square feet in area
and a maximum height of six feet and shall be set back a minimum of
10 feet from all property lines.
(4)
All signs shall be removed within 48 hours of the conclusion
of the special event that is being advertised.
F. Directional signs are permitted in all zoning districts subject to
the following restrictions:
(1)
A directional sign shall not contain a commercial message.
(2)
Such sign shall not exceed two square feet in area or three
feet in height, and shall be set back at least five feet from any
lot line and edge of any driving lane.
G. Noncommercial signs are permitted in all zoning districts.
H. All signs located in the Village shall be erected, altered, and maintained
at the risk of the owner of the sign, who shall assume full responsibility
for any consequences of any damages caused by the sign.
I. A sign shall be removed by the owner within 24 hours of receipt of
notice from the Village stating that the sign does not comply with
the requirements of this article by reason of its height, size, design,
condition or location. The notice shall state that if the owner does
not remove the sign, or correct the unsafe or improper condition within
the specified time frame, the Village may remove the sign. Upon failure
to remove or correct the unsafe or improper condition within 24 hours
of receipt of the notice, the Village may take whatever action is
necessary to have the sign removed or to otherwise abate the unsafe
or improper condition and in addition to other remedies, the Village
shall have the right to recover from the owner of the sign the full
costs of removing and disposing of the sign or abating the unsafe
or improper condition.
J. Temporary business signs are permitted in all commercial and industrial
districts subject to the following requirements:
(1)
A maximum of two signs may be used to identify a special, unique
or limited activity, service, project, promotion or sale of limited
duration.
(2)
A sign permit shall be obtained prior to the installation of
the signs.
(3)
All signs must be located on the same lot that is advertised.
(4)
No more than four permits for signs shall be issued for the
same premises within one calendar year. The signs shall not be used
in excess of 15 calendar days and shall be removed within three days
of the termination of the sign permit.
K. Signs located within 100 feet of a residential district shall be
limited to not more than 50% of the maximum allowable sign area permitted
in the district.
The following signs are permitted in R-1 and R-2 Districts:
A. Wall signs. For permitted uses other than dwellings. Only one sign
per street frontage is allowed.
B. Freestanding signs. For uses other than dwellings. One sign per parcel is allowed except as provided by §
370-438C. Maximum height is 10 feet. Signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the front lot line and a minimum of 15 feet from all other lot lines.
C. Size. Total square footage of all signs above shall not exceed 32
square feet in aggregate per parcel, and no single sign shall exceed
24 square feet.
D. Residential subdivision signs. One sign identifying a platted subdivision,
site condominium or other residential development is allowed at each
entrance road to the development, except that not more than two signs
shall be allowed per development. The sign shall not exceed 24 square
feet in area and shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from the street
right-of-way. Maximum height shall be five feet above grade if freestanding.
E. Real estate sign. For single-family and two-family dwellings, one
real estate sign per parcel is allowed. The sign shall not exceed
six square feet in area and four feet in height and shall be set back
a minimum of 10 feet from all lot lines.
F. Yard or garage sale sign. For residential uses, signs are permitted
for the duration of the event.
G. Nameplate signs: as identified in §
370-3, Subsection (18) of "Sign" definition.
The following signs are permitted in the R-3 district:
A. Wall signs. For permitted uses other than dwellings. Only one sign
per street frontage is allowed.
B. Freestanding sign. For uses other than dwellings. One sign per parcel is allowed except as provided by §
370-438C. Maximum height shall be 10 feet. Signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the front lot line.
C. Size. Total square footage of all signs above shall not exceed 50
square feet in aggregate per parcel, and no single sign shall exceed
24 square feet.
D. Residential subdivision signs. One sign identifying a platted subdivision,
site condominium or other residential development is allowed at each
entrance road to the development, except that not more than two signs
shall be allowed per development. The sign shall not exceed 24 square
feet in area and shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from the street
right-of-way. Maximum height shall be five feet above grade if freestanding.
E. Real estate sign. For single-family and two-family dwellings, one
real estate sign per parcel is allowed. The sign shall not exceed
six square feet in area and four feet in height; and for multifamily
and nonresidential uses, a maximum area of 32 square feet, with a
maximum height of 10 feet. Signs shall be set back a minimum of eight
feet from all lot lines.
F. Yard or garage sale sign. For residential uses, signs are permitted
for the duration of the event.
G. Nameplate signs: as identified in §
370-3, Subsection (18) of "Sign" definition.
The following signs are permitted in the C-1 and PUD Districts:
A. Wall signs. For permitted uses other than dwellings. Only one sign
per street frontage is allowed.
B. Freestanding sign. For uses other than dwellings. One sign per parcel is allowed except as provided by §
370-438C. Maximum height shall be 15 feet. Signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from all lot lines.
C. Size. Total square footage of all signs above shall not exceed 80
square feet in aggregate per parcel, and no single sign shall exceed
40 square feet.
D. Real estate sign. For single-family and two-family dwellings, one
real estate sign per parcel is allowed. The sign shall not exceed
six square feet in area and four feet in height; and for multifamily
and nonresidential uses, a maximum area of 32 square feet, with a
maximum height of 10 feet. Signs shall be set back a minimum of 10
feet from all lot lines.
The following signs are permitted in the C-2 District:
A. Wall signs. For permitted uses other than dwellings. Only one sign
per street frontage is allowed.
B. Freestanding sign. For uses other than dwellings, one sign per parcel is allowed except as provided by §
370-438C. Maximum height shall be 30 feet. Signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from all lot lines.
C. Size. Total square footage of all signs above shall not exceed 200
square feet in aggregate per parcel, and no single sign shall exceed
100 square feet.
D. Real estate sign. For single-family and two-family dwellings, one
real estate sign per parcel is allowed. The sign shall not exceed
six square feet in area and four feet in height; and for multifamily
and nonresidential uses, a maximum area of 32 square feet, with a
maximum height of 10 feet, is permitted. Signs shall be set back a
minimum of 10 feet from all lot lines.
E. Highway signs. One sign is permitted if the parcel/lot is within
200 feet of the M-60/M-62 right-of-way. Maximum size is 200 square
feet and maximum height is 30 feet. The sign must be located a minimum
of 10 feet from the M-60/M-62 right-of-way, and one foot of setback
per each foot of sign height must be provided from all residential
district boundaries.
F. Directional signs. Directional signs may be located as approved by
the Village as necessary for traffic safety. No sign may exceed four
square feet in area or a maximum height of four feet. Directional
signs must be set back at least five feet from any property line unless
placed upon a light pole or building.
G. Billboards. Not more than one billboard may be erected within 1,500
linear feet of another billboard located on the same side of a state
or interstate highway. The measurement of 1,500 linear feet shall
not be limited to the boundaries of the Village where the particular
highway extends beyond such boundaries. Double-faced (back-to-back)
structures shall be considered as one sign. V-type billboards, electronic
message or changeable message signs shall not be allowed.
(1)
The total surface of any billboard as viewed from a single location
shall not exceed 400 square feet.
(2)
No billboard shall be located within 500 feet of a residence.
(3)
No billboard shall be located closer than 100 feet from the
property line adjoining a public right-of-way or 50 feet from the
interior boundary lines of the premises on which the billboard is
located.
(4)
No billboard shall be permitted where its size, height, illumination
or location would unreasonably impair visibility, light and air otherwise
enjoyed by occupants of adjacent premises.
(5)
All state permits must be obtained as required by statute.
[Amended 5-11-2020 by Ord. No. 261]
The following signs are permitted in the C-3 District:
A. Wall, canopy/awning, or projecting signs. For permitted uses other
than dwellings. Only one sign per street frontage is allowed.
(1)
Canopy/awning signs may be a total of 50% of the canopy/awning
area and may not project beyond the canopy/awning.
(2)
Projecting signs shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk,
may not be larger than 32 square feet, or wider than eight feet.
B. Freestanding sign. For uses other than dwellings, one sign per parcel is allowed except as provided by §
370-438C. Maximum height shall be 30 feet. Signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from all lot lines.
C. Size. Total square footage of all signs above shall not exceed 120
square feet in aggregate per parcel, and no single sign shall exceed
80 square feet.
D. Real estate sign. For single-family and two-family dwelling, one
real estate sign per parcel is allowed. The sign shall not exceed
six square feet in area and four feet in height; and for multifamily
and nonresidential uses, a maximum area of 32 square feet, with a
maximum height of 10 feet, is permitted. Signs shall be set back a
minimum of 10 feet from all lot lines.
E. Directional signs. Directional signs may be located as approved by
the Village as necessary for traffic safety. No sign may exceed four
square feet in area or a maximum height of four feet. Directional
signs must be set back at least five feet from any property line unless
mounted on a building.
F. Sidewalk or sandwich board signs. Sandwich-board-type signs are permitted
as follows:
(1)
Only one sandwich board sign per commercial use is permitted.
(2)
The signs cannot be wider than three feet and not taller than
five feet.
(3)
The sign must be located within 10 feet of the primary entrance
of the establishment. Any approved sign must allow a minimum unobstructed
sidewalk width of four feet.
(4)
The sign cannot be 10 feet from the intersection of street right-of-way
lines, measured along both right-of-way lines from the point of intersection.
(5)
All signs must be portable and placed indoors daily at the close
of business.
(6)
Proof of liability insurance must be provided to the Village
prior to issuance of the sign permit.
G. Definitions for the Sign Ordinance.
AWNING
A sheet of canvas or other material stretched on a frame
and used to keep the sun or rain off a storefront, window, or doorway.
AWNING SIGN
A message painted on, printed on, or attached flat against
the surface of an awning.
CANOPY
A structure, free of enclosing walls, that extends from a
building for the purpose of providing shelter over a storefront or
entryway.
CANOPY SIGN
A message painted on, printed on, or attached flat against
the surface of a canopy.
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign which is affixed to any building or structure and
projects in such a way that the message is not parallel to the wall
to which it is attached.
The following signs are permitted in the I-1 and I-2 Districts:
A. Wall signs. For permitted uses other than dwellings, no maximum number.
B. Freestanding sign. For uses other than dwellings. One sign per parcel
is permitted except as provided by § 370438C. Maximum height
shall be 25 feet. Signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from
the right-of-way and 10 feet from all private drives and other lot
lines.
C. Size. Total square footage of all wall signs shall not exceed one
square foot per 15 square feet of wall area with a maximum of 200
square feet. Freestanding signs shall not exceed 120 square feet per
single sign with an aggregate maximum of 300 square feet.
D. Real estate sign. For single-family and two-family dwellings, one
real estate sign per parcel is allowed. The sign shall not exceed
six square feet in area and four feet in height; and for multifamily
and nonresidential uses, a maximum area of 32 square feet, with a
maximum height of 10 feet. Signs shall be set back a minimum of 10
feet from all lot lines.
E. Highway signs. One sign is permitted if the parcel/lot is within
200 feet of the M-60/M-62 right-of-way. Maximum size is 200 square
feet and maximum height is 30 feet. The sign must be located a minimum
of 10 feet from the M-60/M-62 right-of-way, and one foot of setback
per each foot of sign height must be provided from all residential
district boundaries.
F. Directional signs. Directional signs may be located as approved by
the Village as necessary for traffic safety. No sign may exceed four
square feet in area or a maximum height of four feet. Directional
signs must be set back at least five feet from any property line unless
placed upon a building.
G. Billboards. Not more than one billboard may be erected within 1,500
linear feet of another billboard located on the same side of a state
or interstate highway. The measurement of 1,500 linear feet shall
not be limited to the boundaries of the Village where the particular
highway extends beyond such boundaries. Double-faced (back-to-back)
structures shall be considered as one sign. V-type billboards, electronic
message or changeable message signs shall not be allowed.
(1)
The total surface of any billboard as viewed from a single location
shall not exceed 400 square feet.
(2)
No billboard shall be located within 500 feet of a residence.
(3)
No billboard shall be located closer than 100 feet from the
property line adjoining a public right-of-way or 50 feet from the
interior boundary lines of the premises on which the billboard is
located.
(4)
No billboard shall be permitted where its size, height, illumination
or location would unreasonably impair visibility, light and air otherwise
enjoyed by occupants of adjacent premises.
(5)
All state permits must be obtained as required by statute.
H. Entranceway signs. A sign depicting the name of the development or
subdivision which is located at the entranceway to such development
is permitted.
(1)
The maximum size shall be 75 square feet in display area.
(2)
The maximum height shall be five feet except if located in a
required yard, in which case the maximum height shall be three feet.
(3)
An entranceway sign shall be located within the triangular area
formed by the intersection of any two public rights-of-way lines and
the line between such public rights-of-way lines at points 25 feet
distant from the point of their intersection.
(4)
An entranceway sign located within a public right-of-way shall
be subject to any and all conditions established by the Village and/or
the County Road Commission, pursuant to an encroachment agreement
between the developer and the affected jurisdiction.
I. Tenant locator signs. An industrial development or subdivision may
erect one tenant identification or locator sign per development. The
sign shall be set back not less than 10 feet from the right-of-way,
shall not exceed 40 square feet in area and five feet in height, and
is intended for the use of the public in identifying and/or locating
individual businesses or tenants in the larger development.
Any sign that the Village determines to be abandoned shall be
removed by the owner. If the owner does not remove the sign, or if
no owner can be found, the Village may remove the sign. If the sign
is removed by the Village and the owner is known, the Village shall
have the right to recover from the owner of the sign the full costs
of removing and disposing of the sign.